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Alternative Law Groups (ALG)

Quezon City, Philippines
Joined February 2012
Presence in: Philippines

The Alternative Law Groups (ALG) is a coalition of twenty (20) legal resource non-governmental organizations that adhere to the principles and values of alternative or developmental law. These organizations have distinct programs for developmental legal assistance that is primarily concerned with the pursuit of public interest, respect for human rights and promotion of social justice.

At the heart of alternative lawyering is the dual work of empowering the poor and the marginalized, and effecting justice system reforms. The first component entails enhancing the capacity of the poor and marginalized groups to access and use judicial, quasi-judicial and other mechanisms for addressing their issues and concerns, and for protecting and enforcing their rights. The second focuses on the pursuit of a favorable policy environment that promotes the rights and interests of the poor and marginalized.

ALG members’ operations cover a wide area of concerns involving justice issues of the poor and marginalized groups in the Philippines. These include issues on women, labor, peasant, fisherfolk, children, urban poor, indigenous peoples, persons living with HIV-AIDS, local governance, and the environment. Collectively, the coalition members’ operations cover the entire country, with some ALG members having nationwide coverage and operating in different areas throughout the Philippines, and others focusing their operations on a particular locality or region.

Although the coalition members have their respective program priorities and strategies in their respective areas of operations, their work can be categorized into four major components: Education, Policy Reform Work, Litigation, and Research and Publication.

People Associated With This Organization

Anna Liza Mones

Philippines  
Alternative Law Groups (ALG)
Joined April 2020
Interests: Environmental Justice, Family, Gender-based violence, Governance, Accountability & Transparency, Women's Rights
I am part of the Alternative Law Groups in the Philippines.

Christine Antoniette Ramos

Philippines  
Alternative Law Groups (ALG) (Unverified)
Joined May 2015
Research and Policy Advocacy, Environment, Indigenous Peoples Rights

Gian Miko Arabejo

Philippines  
Alternative Law Groups (ALG)
Joined November 2022
Interests: Community Paralegals, Other
I am from the Alternative Law Groups network working with human rights defenders and victims of human rights violations. I am looking for networking and supporting fellow advocates in whatever way I can.

Jaycen Aligway

Philippines  
Alternative Law Groups (ALG)
Joined October 2022
Interests: Legal Aid & Public Interest Law
I'm a Communications Officer working in a civil service organization that focuses in developmental law and alternative lawyering.

jocelyn caseres

Philippines  
Alternative Law Groups (ALG)
Joined March 2019
Interests: Community / Customary Land Rights
I am currently connected with the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) based in Cebu City, Philippines as Area Manager. One of my tasks is to assist the local government units in strengthening their fish wardens by providing paralegal training in related laws and skills. I joined the network to get updates on the work of NAMATI.

Lorena Navallasca

Philippines  
Alternative Law Groups (ALG)
Joined April 2012
Interests: Environmental Justice, Gender-based violence, Governance, Accountability & Transparency, Livelihoods
I have been working with PROCESS Foundation Panay, Inc. since 1989. started my NGO work as researcher and community organizer in Agrarian reform and Rural development project funded by Ford Foundation and later on in charged of our NGO operation in Panay, island, Western Visayas, (Region 6), Philippines. Had experienced working with various sectors e.g. farmers, fisherfolk, IPs and women.

Our organization, PROCESS foundation Panay, Inc. is a member of the Alternative Law Groups (ALG).

Maria Generosa Mislang-Tomboc

Philippines  
Alternative Law Groups (ALG)
Joined September 2018
Interests: Community / Customary Land Rights, Environmental Justice, Governance, Accountability & Transparency
Atty. Maria Generosa T. Mislang obtained her juris doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1997 and passed the Philippine Bar Examinations in 1998. In 2002, she obtained her Master of Laws in Public Service Law degree from the New York University School of Law. She has been with Tanggol Kalikasan (A public interest environmental law office) from 1999 where she provides direct legal services to community clients (fisherfolk, farmers, upland dwellers, urban poor, and indigenous peoples) affected by various environmental issues. She is currently the National Coordinator of the Alternative Law Groups.

Rene Clemente

Philippines  
Alternative Law Groups (ALG)
Joined May 2015
A Program Officer working at Alternative Law Groups (ALG), a network of 18 legal resource NGOs in the Philippines working on human rights, social justice, community empowerment, greater access to justice, and peace-building.

Ryan Jay Roset

Philippines  
Alternative Law Groups (ALG)
Joined June 2018
Interests: Criminal Justice, Education, Environmental Justice, Governance, Accountability & Transparency, Livelihoods, Peace-building & Transitional Justice
Lawyer. Deputy Coordinator. Democratic reform and legal empowerment advocate.

Sheila Grace Formento

Philippines  
Alternative Law Groups (ALG)
Joined February 2021
Interests: Environmental Justice, Gender-based violence, Policy Advocacy, Women's Rights
I am a human rights and child rights advocate, a community organizer, and a lawyer.

I am the current National Coordinator of the Alternative Law Groups-Secretariat (ALG), a coalition of eighteen (18) legal resource NGOs in the Philippines that adhere to the principles and values of alternative or developmental law. ALG members’ operations cover a wide area of concerns involving justice issues of the poor and marginalized groups in the Philippines. These include issues on women, labor, peasant, fisherfolk, children, urban poor, indigenous peoples, persons living with HIV-AIDS, local governance, and the environment.

I graduated with a bachelors’ degree in Community Development from the University of the Philippines. While working full time, I earned my Bachelor of Laws degree at the Arellano University School of Law in 2017. I was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2018.

At a young age, I was decided in pursuing my career as a community organizer and work with the marginalized and vulnerable sectors. Before joining ALG as National Deputy Coordinator/ National Program Coordinator in 2019, I served as a National Training Officer for the Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT) from 2009 to 2019. PACT is a national coalition of Civil Society Organizations and individual child rights advocates for child protection against trafficking in the Philippines.

My work experience also includes organizing Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children (BCPC) and Local Councils Against Trafficking and VAWC (LCAT-VAWC); implementing capacity building activities for communities, children, social workers, and law enforcers: and teaching college students at the Dela Salle University under the Civic Welfare Training Service program.

My 20 years of involvement in the development work has led me to immerse myself in the different struggles and issues of several marginalized sectors such as fisherfolk, women, urban poor communities, and children. I also engaged different government agencies in strengthening protection mechanisms for women and children.

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